ANKARA, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has sent military reinforcements to its border with Syria, state-run media reported on Monday, after Ankara and Washington agreed to coordinate closely during the U.S. withdrawal from Syria.

According to state-run Anadolu Agency, a batch of Turkish military convoy, including howitzers and artillery batteries, arrived in border areas of southeastern Kilis Province. Meanwhile, in northern Syria, Turkish-backed militia Free Syria Army (FSA) were deployed to areas near the Kurdish-held town of Manbij, Anadolu said.

HODEIDAH, Yemen, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The head of a UN team monitoring the UN-backed cease-fire in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah visited on Monday its main port, neighborhoods and some frontlines.

Patrick Cammaert, a retired Dutch general, leads a joint committee from both Yemeni rival forces, namely the Saudi-backed government and the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the cease-fire in Hodeidah.

Cammaert was accompanied by the Houthi representatives of the cease-fire committee during his visit to the rebel-held docks.

WASHINGTON, December 24. /TASS/. The order for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria has been signed, a Pentagon official confirmed to TASS.

The execute order has been signed, the official said, declining to provide further operational details.

CNN reported earlier that "the order to withdraw US forces from Syria has been signed".

On December 19, US President Donald Trump ordered a full withdrawal of US troops from Syria. "After historic victories against ISIS, it’s time to bring our great young people home!" he said.

PANDEGLANG/SERANG, Indonesia, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of a deadly tsunami hitting Sunda Strait in western Indonesia has risen to 373, with 1,459 others injured, while rescue efforts have continued amid challenges from bad weather and damaged access.

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Anti-aircraft gunners of the Central Military District have returned to Novosibirsk after performing tasks to protect Russia’s facilities in Syria, the district’s press service told TASS on Monday.

Lucknow Dec 24 (PTI) Amid row over Lord Hanuman's identity, Uttar Pradesh's sports minister and former cricketer Chetan Chauhan has said that the Hindu deity was a sportsperson.

However, he dismissed his party colleagues' attempts at identifying Lord Hanuman's caste and said gods don't have castes.

Pandharpur (Maha), Dec 24 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Monday mouthed the Congress' oft-repeated jibe of "chowkidar chor hai" made in the context of the Rafale fighter jet deal to mount a veiled attack on his senior ally -- the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

25 Dec 2018; DW: Pope Francis has reminded Christians that their messiah was born in poverty and said they should focus on love and charity instead of "consumerism." The event in St. Peter's Basilica was attended by 10,000 people.

Pope Francis used the Christmas Eve Mass to condemn the pursuit of riches on Monday, and urged Christians to consider Jesus' humble birth story. According to the New Testament, Christ was born in a Bethlehem stable and was then placed in a manger.

NEW DELHI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- As many as 45 flights were delayed at Delhi's international airport amidst dense foggy conditions and high air pollution levels on Tuesday.

The entire north India, including the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh have been witnessing dense fog over the past few days, particularly during morning and evening hours.

24 Dec 2018; AFP: 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent more troops to Syria's border on Monday ahead of an imminent US withdrawal, as the White House announced he had invited Donald Trump to Ankara.

Unlike several other allies of the United States, Turkey has praised President Trump's decision to withdraw 2,000 of his ground forces from Syria, a country where it will now have a freer rein to target Kurdish fighters.

Hyderabad, Dec 24 (PTI) A self-styled spiritual guru and his brother have been arrested here for allegedly cheating several people of over Rs 50 crore in a multi-level marketing racket, police said Monday.

E Kumar Girish Singhand Dileep Singh were taken into custody based on a complaint by a woman from whom the Rs 21.78 lakh was collected for investment in 'DREAM BRIDZ', a social business network, assuring huge profits within a short period if the investors enrolled two new members each, a police release said.

Garwah (Jharkhand), Dec 24 (PTI) A Maoist carrying a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, was arrested in Garwah district on Monday, police said.

Laldeo Bhuiyan, an area commander of the CPI(Maoist) was arrested during a search operation launched by the district armed police and CRPF, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vijay Kumar.

Bhuiyan, a resident of Aabun village under Panki police station of Palamau district, was wanted by police in connection with several naxal-related incidents in Palamau and Latehar districts, Kumar said.